9 December 2010
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement at the unveiling of a stone sculpture of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada:
“On behalf of all Canadians, I am proud to be present for the unveiling of a sculpture of Her Majesty The Queen of Canada, created by Mr. Phil White, which will be integrated into the Sovereigns’ Arches in the Senate Foyer.
“This unveiling takes place two days before the 79th anniversary of the Statute of Westminster (1931), a British law that clarified the powers of Canada’s Parliament, and that marked a pivotal moment on Canada’s road to independence, including the status of the Canadian Crown.
“Canadians have enjoyed a long and special relationship with Her Majesty the Queen, who has come to Canada on 22 occasions since her accession to the throne almost 60 years ago. On her most recent tour in June, Her Majesty had the opportunity to unveil the chosen maquette.
“This sculpture will serve as a reminder of the high esteem in which Canadians hold Her Majesty, especially as we look forward to her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.”
